Lillie Bartlett, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This is a promotional trade card of Lillie Bartlett from the Actors and Actresses series, distributed by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to market Duke Cigarettes in the late 19th century. These cards existed within a cultural landscape increasingly shaped by mass media and consumerism. The image captures Bartlett in a staged, theatrical pose, reflecting the commodification of female performers during this period. She is presented as both a figure of admiration and a sales tool, her identity intertwined with the promotion of a product. The corset she is wearing suggests the societal expectations placed on women's bodies. It also hints at the performative nature of femininity itself, in which women were expected to mold themselves – literally and figuratively – into ideal forms for public consumption. Such cards offer a glimpse into the complex intersections of gender, celebrity culture, and capitalist enterprise at the turn of the century.